Going To Heaven Is Not Bread And Butter But Hard Work And Commitment

Going To Heaven Is Not Bread And Butter But Hard Work And Commitment

Text: Romans 14:17 “For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. 18 For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.”

Preambles:
Few days ago, a sister asked a question on Facebook. Is chewing gum right for a Christian?
Many people answered that it was a sin, while others holds the opinion that you should be moderate in your chewing. And yet, some others said it is wrong to chew gum in the church but okay outside the church. As for you people preparing to make heaven, you don’t have a reserved life in the church and another one outside the church. This will amount to hypocrisy should you be doing so.
Everything you do must be patterned after God’s word and therefore, do only the things you will confidently do when standing in the presence of God as if Jesus is right there physically with you. If you cannot chew gum in Jesus presence physically, your chewing gum outside the church is a sin. Whatsoever is not of faith is sin the bible says Romans 14:23.
Your mini skirts, attachment, weavon, makeup, women wearing trousers, jewelries, rings and other satanic appearances in the church today and the works of flesh Galatians 5:19-21. If you are a person working in the flesh, there’s no way you will ever make heaven because the carnal mind is enmity against God. Romans 8:7 “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.” God bless you.

The ways and thoughts of the Almighty God are higher than ours (ordinary human beings) is the description of how heaven is far higher than the earth in comparison Isaiah 55:9. Therefore, to assume that the Almighty God will come down to our human level of thinking in deciding HIS justice on every individual is like turning God into a human being with the qualities of change. The bible says “God is not a man that can change or lie” Malachi 3:6; Numbers 23:19. The habitation of heaven is justice, judgment, mercy and truth Psalm 89:14.

Heaven is a prepared place for a prepared people and therefore, for every individual that wishes to make it there at his/her death or during the rapture, must follow the lay down guidelines of the word of God that leads there Psalm 119:11. Heaven was the very first thing that God created Genesis 1:1 because HE needed a dwelling place 1 Kings 8:39. Heaven is the throne of the Almighty God Isaiah 66:1, which is the habitation of the holy angels and all the saints that will ever make it there, rendering worship unto HIM Nehemiah 9:6.

LET’S CONSIDER THE CONTEXT OF OUR TEXT
Romans 14:17 “For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.”

Righteousness - Adhering to moral principles
Psalm 145:17 “The LORD is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works.”
1 John 2:29 “If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.”
1 John 3:7 “Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.”
Heaven seeking brethren, the moral principles of the bible as much as heaven is concerned is righteousness. Are you therefore adhering to these righteous principles of God? When you are righteous, you will graciously and faithfully expose every work of darkness not to condone, sponsor or approve them Ephesians 5:11. Psalm 93:5 “Thy testimonies are very sure: holiness becometh thine house, O LORD, for ever.”

Peace - Harmonious relations
James 3:18 “And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.”
Hebrews 12:14 “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord”
Romans 14:19 “Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.”
Psalm 34:14 “Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.”
Making heaven is also tied to peace, which is a harmonious relationship between one another, and between you and God. To further demonstrate that peace is needful for you to enter heaven and even before your offering can be accepted by God, Jesus said, “first be reconciled to thy brother” Matthew 5:24. Brethren, how peaceful are you? Even in marriage, the bible says “but God hath called us to peace” 1 Corinthians 7:15.

Joy - The emotion of great happiness
Psalm 16:11 “Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.”
Nehemiah 8:10 “Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”
Joy is also a requirement for making heaven, which is an emotion of great happiness created in you when you accepted Jesus Christ as your LORD and personal saviour, and your sins forgiven you Luke 18:13-14. You can only find joy in God’s presence which becomes the strength of the believers in Christ Jesus.

Therefore, the bond that tied righteousness, peace and joy together in the matter of haven is the Holy Ghost. You can’t claim to have the Holy Ghost in you when your actions and works are that of unrighteousness, quarrelsome and frowness of face. The Holy Ghost can only reside in a holy vessel 2 Peter 1:20-21, which brought the bible to us today, showing us the mind of God and how to follow this God and make eternity in heaven.  Psalm 119:9 “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.”

The way to heaven is narrow and will always remain narrow Matthew 7:14 because, it is not possible for everyone to be saved Romans 9:27. Being narrow means ‘it is an unpleasant and very difficult way to go’ hence it is only few that find it. May you be found among these few today in Jesus name. Amen.

You must be prepared to do will of God if you must make heaven. Matthew 7:21 says “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.” Are you doing the will of God, or you doing your own will? Psalm 40:8 “I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.”

Making heaven requires self-denial. Until you deny yourself of all forms of worldly pleasures, and take up your cross and following Jesus consistently on a daily basis, heaven will only be a dream to you. Luke 9:23 “And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” Jesus leads, and I follow.

You must also forsake/abandon all the things that you were (bury all your past glories) for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ if you must make heaven Philippians 3:8. Luke 18:28 “Then Peter said, Lo, we have left all, and followed thee. 29 And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God's sake, 30 Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting.”

Striving is the process to get to heaven. You must keep striving unto you win the crown because, all runneth but one wins the crown. May you win your crown of life today in Jesus name. Amen. Luke 13:24 “Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.” 1 Corinthians 9:24 “Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.”

Making heaven requires diligent work with the LORD. Jesus said “My Father worketh hitherto, and I work” John 5:17. This work requires faithfulness to be accepted. 1 Corinthians 4:2 “Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.”
Which work are you working for the LORD? Will your work stand the test of time, or they will get burnt up when they are put to the test? 1 Corinthians 3:9 “For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building. 10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.  11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;  13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. 14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.”

If you must make heaven, your focus must be set on things above. Matthew 6: 19 “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

You must realize that the friendship of this world is enmity with God James 4:4, which will prevent you from making it to heaven and therefore, you must ensure that you please God in all the things you do, so as to be accepted of God. Hebrews 11:5 “By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.”

The love of the world must not be the basis for measuring your commitment to God. The love of the world will push the love of the Father far away from you. 1 John 2:15 “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.”

To make heaven, you must rely on the finished work of calvary Hebrews 12:2. You must make use of God’s grace because you cannot save yourself Ephesians 2:8. You must be born again John 3:3-5. Holiness is a non negotiable Hebrews 12:14; 1 Peter 1:15-16. You must have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit of God Romans 8:16, among several other things.

Remember, you are a soldier fighting to make heaven for yourself, do not allow the entanglement of flesh to deny you heaven, as the devil our chief adversary is seeking whom to devour 1 Peter 5:8, for certainly, there are many adversaries. 1 Corinthians 16:9 “For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries.” 2 Timothy 2:4 “No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.”

Heaven, a prepared place for a prepared people is so pure that no filthiness and defilement will ever get there. It will only accommodate those who labour for their names to written there. Revelation 21:27 “And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.”
Are you prepared for heaven brethren? Examine yourselves the bible encourages us 2 Corinthians 13:5. I pray that we will be found worthy when the LORD examines us today in Jesus name. Amen.  Psalm 26:2 “Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart.”

In conclusion, if you must make heaven, you must truly cleanse yourself of every form of filthiness and be prepare to please the LORD in your body, soul and spirit 1 Thessalonians 5:23; Romans 12:1-2. 2 Corinthians 7:1 “Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”
It takes the willing and obedient heart to make heaven. If you are therefore willing to obey the word of God in its entirety and repent of your sins truly, I assure you that by the grace of God, heaven will become a reality to you. Isaiah 1:18 “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. 19 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land.”

May the LORD God Almighty enlighten our eyes of understanding today in Jesus name. Amen. Ephesians 1:18 “The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, 19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power.”
Shalom!